Separation anxiety in babies is a normal reaction during which age range?

• A. 6 months to about 3 years
• B. Newborn to 2 months
• C. 4 months to 1 year
• D. 6 months to about 3 years

Answer: (D)

Separation anxiety reflects a developing attachment and understanding that a caregiver is a separate person. It typically appears around six months, when babies become more aware of their caregiver's absence and may show distress when separated. This reaction tends to be most evident in toddlerhood, roughly from six months up through about three years, as children learn to cope with being apart while still seeking security from a trusted caregiver. After this period, many children gradually become more comfortable with separations as independence grows. If the anxiety were excessive or lasting well beyond early childhood, it might warrant further evaluation, but the six-month-to-three-year window is considered normal for this developmental stage.